is there a way to block the automatic creation of metadata for Word files? e.g. no entry for Author or Company.

You could try File > Options > General and deleting your user name … and removing information from existing files could hardly be easier :-}

1. File > Info
2. Click [Check for issues]
3. Click Inspect document
4. On Document Inspector panel, select Document Properties and Personal Information
5. [Inspect]
6. [Remove all]

For an illustrated presentation, see the Tech Net tip for this "pretty easy task".

There's also the Trust Center option, protected by the Microsoft warning "We recommend that you do not change these settings."


Good luck! with the usual advice to experiment with unimportant files before committing yourself.

Attached Images

trustCenter.png (67.9 KB, 11 views)